Don't worry, we're going to walk you through this! And with tips from Fiona Locke, St. Tropez's self-tanning pro, your fake glow will look utterly real.

Before you begin

Before you begin

1. Know that there are two kinds of self-tanners: gradual lotions, which create a subtle tan in about three days, and regular tanners, which give you deeper, same-day results. Regular tanner comes in lots of different forms; a lotion usually works best for your face, while a mousse is easiest for the body. (Go with a tinted formula so you can see where it's going and spots you've missed.)

2. Pay attention to the shade names. Most tanners come in light-to-medium and medium-to-dark. These refer to your skin tone, not the shade of tan you want, so pick the right one for your coloring.

3. Don't shave or wax for at least 24 hours before you tan. Otherwise, the formula can settle into open hair follicles and make your skin look speckled.

Face: Step 1

Face: Step 1

Tanner—even a gradual one—shouldn't touch your face until you've exfoliated. Dry patches of skin absorb more color, so you could end up with splotches. Use a gentle, oil-free scrub all over, and be sure to work it around your nostrils and all along your cheeks, where skin is driest.